HT : COURT UPDATE - 11 hospitals ignore HC order : Oct 12, 2007

COURT UPDATE - 11 hospitals ignore HC order

 Urvi Mahajani
Mumbai

ELEVEN OF the 80 charitable hospitals in Mumbai have refused to go by the
Bombay High Court's order to ensure free treatment for poor and needy
patients.

According to the order, charitable hospitals must create an indigent patient
fund (IPF) account, wherein 2 per cent of its gross earnings will be
credited. The IPF was to be created from September 1, 2006, as per the court
directive.

Also, the hospitals will be required to put up signboards informing the
public about the scheme.

Dattaprasad Purohit, joint charity commissioner, submitted a report to the
high court on Thursday stating that they had served show-cause notices to
the 11 chari table hospitals, including S.L. Raheja Hospital at Mahim, for
refusing to comply with the order.

Several charitable hospitals claimed they do not have sufficient funds to
meet their expenses and hence are not in a position to start the scheme. In
all, 86 hospitals in the state have decided not to implement the order,
including 11 in Mumbai, said the commissioner's report.
The court was hearing a public interest litigation filed by one Sanjiv
Punalekar alleging that



Publication : HT; Section : Metro; Pg : 12; Date : 12/10/07
URL :
http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/artMailDisp.aspx?article=12_10_2007_002_007&typ=0&pub=264